Pietro Barbino

In the spirit of writing more, this week I’ve decided to tackle another writing challenge, specifically the Trifecta Writing Challenge, where we’re given a one-word prompt on which to base a 33 to 333 word story. This week the word is ample.

Now, in the Boboli Gardens in Florence there is a statue of a fat dwarf sitting naked astride a giant turtle, and for some reason this was the very first thing I thought of when I read the prompt (but let’s not read too much into that, ok?). The statue is of Pietro Barbino, court jester to Cosimo I de’Medici, a Tuscan Duke of the 16th century.

But I won’t bore you with Wikipedia research. Let’s just get to his story, shall we?

I took this picture of Mr. Barbino myself. You should be thankful it’s a little blurry.

Pietro Barbino

Pietro Barbino was short of stature, ample of bosom, and drunk of wine. He tottered to the fountain and sat with a groan.

“Cosimo,” he said, letting the word fall from his lips like dribbled port. “Cosimo de’Medici. First of his name – except for the other one – Duke of Florence and Grand Duke of Tuscany.”

He spat and held out his empty hand.

“The wineskin, Giovanni,” he said, but the boy wasn’t listening; he was staring wistfully up at the villa, where cascades of laughter had just then burst from the courtyard.

“You’re six, Giovanni,” Pietro said, though not unkindly. “That’s old enough to know what a bastard is and old enough to know that this will never be your home, not really. But stick with me and I’ll be your father. Surely I’d be better to you than Cosimo de’Medici… The wine, boy, bring it here.”

Giovanni may have been young, but the boy was every bit as tall as Pietro himself – and taller now that he stood while the dwarf sat. He eyed Pietro disdainfully, and seemed poised to disobey, but at last he handed him the skin.

“You never make me laugh,” he said. “What good are you if you won’t make me laugh? You are my father’s jester, aren’t you?”

Pietro uncorked the skin, took a long drink and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

“Your father’s jester, yes, but not yours. Cosimo de’Medici, first of his name, Duke of—“

“Stop it.”

Pietro smirked. He would have gone on, but his thirst was strong. He emptied the skin and tossed it into the fountain.

“Someday, Giovanni, there will be a statue of me on this very spot,” he said, untying his trousers and relieving himself in the reflecting pool. “Long after your father is dead. Long, indeed, after you are dead – of syphilis or murder or whatever kills young noble bastards these days – and the world will never know or care that I was once another man’s fool.”

Much appreciated! I saw that comparison as I went along, too – with the exception maybe that Pietro only aspires to manipulate / dominate and never quite pulls it off. Hopefully they’re not too too similar haha